Anyone have info on the new Kirby ?

[trebor]

Over 8,000...

Baby Boomers turn 65 everyday. The last ones will turn 65 Dec 31, 2029. A lot of people who cannot work that belt lifter and attachment lock. Makes sense that Kirby would try to offer model that older hand and fingers can use.

I am of the opinion that Kirby should go lighter, quieter, more durable, more powerful. Like a souped up cross between a 500 series Kirby and a Royal metal upright. The Royals are light enough to lift onto a piece of upholstered furniture to vacuum cushions. The handle locks horizontally, vertically and at a slight angle, making it convenient to vacuum mattresses and stairs. There is a lot worth re-examining in the designs of the past.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Well...

Well its the end of June at the end of the week and still no new model...
At this rate we won't see a new model till 2014...

James)

 

[vac_whisperer]

Guys, the new Kirby is going to be a winner. I gurantee it. (Kudos Joe Namath!)

Kirby's been changing their design for nearly 100 years now- and theyve all been quality machines. I dont think we have anything to worry about.

VW

 

[kirby519]

Over 8000

Only a truly handicaped person can not operate a belt lifter or attachament lock.

When you can teach a 4 yr old to do it why can't any one of any age learn. BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO. Besides this design isn't some thing that came out the day before yesterday that no one has ever seen.

Kirby has been doing it for almost 100 yrs. It is about time lazy people started learning how to do more than push keys on a computer or text on a phone.

I was just having a discussion with a client and we both agree that we should be alarmed by the lack of common sense and phyical ability of the younger generation. It is frightening to think that they will some day be taking care of us. Many of the younger generation may be book smart and computer savy. But when it comes to anything else they are just Over educated fools.

 

[kirbyloverdan]

I guess you have never

heard of Arthritis which some or most of the 8,000 baby boomers have . It`s really not about knowing how to use a belt lifter but are you physically able to use your hads to turn the belt lifter . Thats why the longer lasting geared belt makes perfect sense.

 

[Sablekid]

The ONLY complaint I hear about Kirby is the price.

I know good quality has its price, but sometimes I think you should go for volume of sales rather than high profit/low sales.

 

[vacman117]

It is most definitely not that people are lazy... Dan said it right. And I know a lot of older people that have Kirbys and it is way to hard for them to get all of the tools together and get them connected. My grandma is like this. It is nearly impossible for her to do so. And every adult that I know that owns a Kirby uses all of the attachments and knows how to work a belt lifter. I even know people with all-metal Royals that use the attachments on them, and that is FAR more of a pain then a Kirby...

And the "over educated fools" remark REALLY gets under my skin. Just because some people don't collect vacuums or work on something mechanical does NOT make them a 'fool'.

Chase

 

[trebor]

Re-read...

my post. It is 8,000 people PER DAY turning 65 and over. My mom at nearly 78 still changes the head/hose on her Kirby, but it is not as easy for her as it use to be.
My comment was intended to explain WHY Kirby is looking to make their machine easier to use.

Lazy or not, enough people have to buy Kirbys for the company to stay in business. I find the belt lifter on my G$ is more difficult than it used to be. Arthritis does set in, my friend.

 

[vac_whisperer]

Over-educated fools

Yeah, it gets under my skin, too. :S

VW

 

[tolivac]

Really old or elderly people typically use a cleaning service anyway-they don't do the vacuuming anymore.Both of my parents now have housekeepers come in and do most of the vacuuming.and the cleaners bring their own machines.I don't think either of my parents would use a Kirby if they had it at this point.I just still think the new belt system is just too "gimicky" for a machine of the likes of a Kirby.the "crank" added to the belt lifter was so folks with limited hand strength could use the lifter.

 

[kirbylover]

I like how my Kirby Classic Omega has those 2 "hooks" on the top of the belt lifter, give you much more to grab compared to a G series. Bring back the hooks!

The biggest problem I see with the Kirby design is having to remove the nozzle to attach the hose. figure out a way to put a hose attachment under the hood or something without dealing with removing the nozzle or turning the belt lifter and daily cleaning would be easier for some people. Perhaps put some carbon fiber parts to reduce weight.

 

[trebor]

The concept of a Kirby...

may be outmoded. The idea of a single unit adaptable to nearly every conceivable home cleaning function is very appealing during the demonstration, especially with an emphasis on pulling dirt, but consider, is it the most effective and efficient way to go?

An open fan upright is the most ergonomic, energy efficient, simple, easy to service and maintain design for removing imbedded dirt from rugs and carpets, It does not produce strong suction unless the motor draws way more current than required for its primary function. OF all the open fan uprights, two stand out as adequate performers in the hose cleaning department, Kirby and Royal, but they require fiddling with the conversion process.

Canister/Tank Type vacuums require an additional motor and electrified hose to provide brushing action at the nozzle. The hoses wear on the inside from the sand being picked up, as well as from the outside from pulling the unit around. The open fan upright for carpet and the straight suction canister for bare and above the floor cleaning are an unbeatable combination. Or a combination consisting of something like a Sebo Felix, or a GO Clean backpack paired with a Kirby or a Royal would be excellent. In large measure this discussion and ones like it have been fueled by the intention to have one vacuum perform all tasks with equal facility.

A chef has knives for paring, boning, chopping, slicing, mincing and peeling, for breads and cheeses, meats, fruits and vegetables. How often have you used a knife for something other than its optimum purpose when the correct one was at hand in the drawer, just because it was quicker/easier?

A woodworker has a table saw, a radial arm saw, a scroll saw, and a band saw, they all cut wood, what is the purpose of all of the different saws> They each do things the others cannot, or at least to them better.

Perhaps Kirby should be looking at a two or three unit system to reduce weight and increase ease of use. How about we take this thought and run with it for awhile? What units would you like to see teamed with an upright Kirby? In addition to the two I mentioned, I'd consider a Miele universal upright.

 

[henry200]

Consider for a moment how many times when a Kirby hits the second-hand market that, if the attachments are present at all, they appear virtually unused.   In my experience there are a many people who use a vacuum to clean carpeting, period.  Bare floors get a broom-and-dustpan onceover, or nowadays get "swiffered."  And upholstery?  I can't count how many times I've sat on someone's sofa a little too abruptly and sent a cloud of dust into the air, nevermind the piles of crumbs and who knows what between and under the cushions.  A lint brush is the only cleaning tool those sofas ever see.  For these people, who want to "get the job done" in as little time as possible, cleaning in general is a grudgingly-necessary task.   Dragging out a box full of attachments, going through the steps of converting a Kirby back and forth from carpet to hose-mode and then putting everything away again is way too fiddly.


 


Many years ago I gave a friend an Electrolux Olympia.  Her mother had an AE when she was growing up, and later a 1205, (and really used them to their full capability) so I thought this was a good choice.  Being very simple to operate, with a minimum of attachments to keep track of, I thought it was an ideal cleaner for her house with carpeted bedroom and familyroom, and hardwood in living/dining/kitchen areas.  What does she use?  For years it was a BOL Eureka F&G style upright (on carpet and hardwood!) while the Electrolux sat unused in the closet, and now it's a bagless upright.  She told me when I asked once why she doesn't use the Electrolux that "it's too much hassle to put it all together before I can start vacuuming."


 


I think there are a lot of people like my friend for whom a gadget-laden machine like a Kirby is more than they want to deal with.   But for the techno-minded or gadget-obsessed, or clean-freaks like us, they are wonderful household helpers.


 


 

 

[bagintheback]

henry200

Completely true. I myself could never use only a Kirby for its entire life. On board tools are very handy when using the hose. That why I loved my $39 Bissell Powerforce, handle on the hose, simple tools and light. Too bad it gave me headaches while using it for long periods.

If Kirby had a simple tool caddy on the side of the handle, with just a dusting brush/upholstery tool like Electrolux's and crevice tool, more people would include the hose in their daily or weekly cleaning.

 

[Sablekid]

It just makes me laugh that people need on board everything.

Not just the vacuums

but phones do everything now

Televisions do everything now

Cars are beginning to park themselves etc etc.




Its all getting to be a bit overboard in my opinion. Not to be a personal attack on anyone, but im just noticing the trend that people don't want to stop for an extra second, it needs to be NOW and immediately NEAR

 

[kirby519]

Over 8000

Yes i will agree that there are plenty of people with arthritis and have some difficulty operating a Kirby. Same with those that suffered major illness or injury. They usually aren't the ones that couln't handle or operate a simple machine to start with.

As far as the OVER EDUCATED FOOLS. I have met many of them in my line of work. I come from a farm back ground and was taught that things in life weren't going to be handed to you. I was refering to the yonger generation that expect every thing to be handed to them. Or those that opperate on hear say or because their 80 yr old mother is physically unable to do some thing they automaticly are unable to also. Many of the younger generation (Not all) are clue less as to what is expected of them in the world or even what to do. College or no college education. I wasn't out to ruffle any feathers. And sorry if I did.

Like everyone else here I have heard every argument against the kirby you can think of mostly from able bodied people that can talk the talk but can't walk the walk. I work with some one that had a kirby for nearly 30 yrs. She had to take it to the dealer to change the belt. It was also to complicated for her to change attachaments. And Naturally TO HEAVY. And she kept the instuction book in the sani pocket for easy reference. These are the "fools" I'm talking about.

Im not a Rexair/Rainbow person. I have had plenty of first hand experience with them. They are a good machine and work well I just prefer not to fill and empty one every time I just need to vacuum a chair. Plus an upright suits my cleaning needs/style better. Hence the Kirby in the closet.

 

[kirby519]

henry 2000

Many people only clean one or two rooms a day. Yes it is combersome to change a machine back and forth daily to do the chores. To make cleaning easy one should pick a task and do that same task thru out the house or level being cleaned. Then change to the next task. IE put the hose on and vacuum all the furniture, corners, edges detail dusting you would do with the vacuum. Edge clean out to where the upright can get to. Then convert back to the upright and go thru the areas again with the upright. We do this in the janitorial field. It sounds like more work but in reality you can get the job done much faster. Which is what everyone wants. We also operate on the idea that EVERYTHING has to be cleaned EVERY TIME. This isn't true. I do have a Royal hand vac that I go over the suface of furniture to remove the cat hair in between heavy vacuuming with the kirby. Usually monthly and have done so for years. On board hoses and attachaments while nice and handy can get to be just as combersome and some times in the way or lost. I have some Hoover windtunnel vacuums at work. They are good vacuums and handy for those quick detailing needs. But the hoses are streatch hoses and can be a chore to work with. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. We just need to take the time to learn how to best use the machine we have. It will be then that you realize the true value of the machine.

 

[trebor]

Over educated? In what?

The truth is that people with an 8th grade education 100 years ago had more general knowledge, more practical knowledge, more common sense, and more life skills than people today of any educational level you care to name.

The number of years in educational institutions and the number of letters behind one's name do not educated person make. Reading comprehension and clear concise articulation of well-reasoned ideas complete with good grammar and spelling are the foundation of a good education. Enough mathematical skill to perform basic computation with paper and pencil is important, also. The insistence that no one be left behind inevitably causes a lowering of standards, thus require a longer and longer educational trail to proves ones' competence.

Better to have competency exams in subjects at various levels. You pass, you own the competency and can put in on your resume. You don't pass, you can't claim the competency.

An appalling percentage of people cannot read and write at what was a sixth grade level 50 years ago. So, I wonder, in what are all these fools over educated?

 

[kirby519]

Trebor.

How very true. And that is all I was trying to say with out writting and esay. It had been a rough day. The day I made several references that ruffled feathers. That was not my intent. Or to Ignore the fact that there are truly some people that the kirby just isn't right for. I guess I just assumed that most people in those situations had some one to help with the tasks they had difficulty with. I for one stepped up to the plate and gladly helped my elderly grandparents with the chores they needed help with inspite of being 2 hours away. It was family duty. Something of which seems to be going by the wayside along with the other social graces and common sense.

I will be interested to see what the post are to the Kirby multi unit cleaning system I started. I put your idea out there to get it seen and get the feed back you are for. I'm all for an easier and better way of doing things.

 

[tolivac]

I have seen MANY Kirbys-have a Heritage-where the hand tools are still in their wrappers-never been used.but the belt in the floor-carpet nozzle was worn and had to be replaced.I tooo,use a separate canister for the canister jobs.Use the Kirby for carpet cleaning-I do use the hose occasionally.The other Kirbys I have seen with unused tools are those in thrift shops and pawn shops.And have seen MANY Rainbows in pawn shops here.I have some backpack vacs in my collection-would NOT recommend them for home use--too many "bump into" trajedies.A wheeled canister is better.The Felix is awkward as well for use as a hip vacuum.Had one breifly but took it back.worked great as an upright-but with the hose was AWKWARD.You had to use one hand to hold and carry the thing and the other to use the tool.Wish there was a roller base or something to rest the unit on while using the hose-and a longer hose.I feel maybe Kirby should give the "cleaning team" approach a thought.An upright and canister vacuums as separate units-and they can be equipped with the proper tools to suit the user.Douglas- a division of Scott&Fetzer-make canister vacuums.
Add another tool to the list of saws for woodworkers-the family of miter saws-standard,compound,and slide miter saws-these are replacing the radial arm saw.Only two companies make radial saws now---Rockwell-Delta, and Rigid-Craftsman-made by Emerson tools.Miter saws are a hit among building contractors now-you hardly see them using radial saws anymore.The only jobsite "stationary" tools I see on building sites now are miter saws and portable table saws set up on sawhorses or such.and of course each worker usually has a hand held circular saw(corded&cordless) and maybe a drill.cordless at that,too.